These two stats are calculated with the three stats of their respective category as a base and you can't put stat points into them directly. Also it is known that not all stats have the same effect on the defense stats. As an example, a single stat in [endurance] increases [physical defense] more than a point in [strength] while a point in [agility] is even less effective. But the differences aren't that large.

What [physical defense] basically does, is increasing the hardness of ones body. If you have enough [physical defense], even the best steelblade wouldn't be able to cut your flesh anymore, for example.

[Willpower] on the other hand, is by far the least understood stat of all. That is because it tends to fluctuate strongly. While an increase in mind stats certainly also increases [willpower] and some t.i.tles do the same, this stat is only perfectly reflected if one were totaly emotionless. The reason is that your emotions have a strong influence on your willpower. Intense feelings of love and hate for example, can amplify your [willpower] by several times, while feelings like sadness and resignation can have the opposite effect. But the effect is not only reflected in ones [willpower] but can also result in fluctuations of ones mental stats. Some say it can even have effects on the body stats, but i think that it is just the result of a lack of motivation. Opinions on this are split.

You may have realized it at this point already but [willpower] has two effects, one is the ability to withstand mental attacks, but the other is directly related to the undead we talked about earlier. The higher ones [willpower] the easier it is for a soul to maintain itself without a body. That is also the reason why high leveled individuals become undead more often and for a longer time. Some of the great masters that are said to have reached over level 1000, supposedly even leave behind their legacy's in their tombs, were they protect them even after their death until they find a worthy heir."

„Pfft. That sounds like something directly out of a xianxia story.", Aya mumbled amusedly.

„Hmm? I didn't quiet get what you said?", The cardinal asked.

„Nothing, please continue, the last thing should be skills, right?"

„Yes, the last thing that i need to explain are skills. Skills are... this is a little bit hard to explain... Skills exist for almost all actions, as long as one can and wants to improve on this action. For example the [swordmans.h.i.+p] skill exists, but i have never heard of anyone having a ‚walking' or ‚sleeping' skill.

You can get a skill if you actively try to improve on a certain action. When you get a [skill] they are usually around level 3. But depending on your natural talent and you G.o.d given talent, they can start at level 1 or even level 5.

To improve the level of a skill you just have to train and improve your techniques. What the level stands for is rather simple, the higher the skill level the more of your stats are applied to that skill.

Every level of your skill stands for 10% of your total stats. Making it so that someone who [mastered] the [swordmans.h.i.+p] skill, meaning he reached level 10, could suppress someone who has nine times the stats if that person only has level 1 [swordmans.h.i.+p]. Well, that works only with that specific skill, in the end he would still lose in the end, as the one with [swordmans.h.i.+p] on level 1 could just use any other type of skill or even just use brute force, since the defense stats aren't influenced by that."

„So that means that level 10 is the highest level a skill can reach? What happens then? What if one has a swordstyle that counters that of the other? And are there skill that have prerequisites? Such as magic techniques?", Aya asked excitedly.

„It is as you think. In the end skill level and stats aren't everything. If you reach level 10 with a skill you may be called a master but that doesn't mean you are unbeatable. It just means that you are able to use the sword very well. As you thought, if someone has lower stats and skill level than the other, that person can still win if he counters the other. In addition, level 10 isn't the highest level a skill can reach, there is actually no known upper limit. But, they say that level 10 is the highest level that can be taught to you. Any higher you have to find your own way that suits you.

Regarding your last question, you are right again. There are some skill's with prerequisites, different types of magic are one of them, an other example would be [sworddancing], which needs a certain level with [swordmans.h.i.+p] and [dancing] to be able to learn it. If you do learn [sworddancing] without the other skills, you will still get them at latest when you get [sworddancing]. Magic is a little different in that regard, as it is impossible to use and train in practice without the [magic power] skill.

Oh, and then there are so called 'fusion skill's'. These are extremly rare as they are the proof that one is able to perfectly use and combine skills over a large area. The most famous skill's of this type are for example [weapon mastery] which one can get if they have an understanding on many different types of weapons, to a point were they would be able to properly use a weapon even if they have never even heard of it before. Or the [weaponization] skill which even includes objects that aren't meant to be weapons. A magic skill of that type would be the [elemental magic] that makes use and freely combines fire, water, earth and wind magic.

-So that would be a skill i should try to learn, as my t.i.tle as [elementalist] gives me a high affinity with all four elements.-

„Ohhh! That truly is remarkable! With that information as a basis, i may have an idea what your talent means. Even though we can't be sure if [profound mage] is truly related to this, but maybe it is related to an even stronger version of [elemental magic] just like [weaponization]. Well we will find out eventually.

Oh, and if i think about it, maybe sir walker might just be able to create a never before seen fusion skill in relation to the different crafts!"